Desperate hunt for three tourists missing in Greece amid brutal 44C heatwave that has seen five holidaymakers die or vanish on country's idyllic islands since the death of Dr Michael Mosley
Five people have died or vanished since Dr Mosley's death on June 5 Have you been affected by the extreme heat? Email [email protected]
Greek authorities are desperately searching for three missing tourists amid a brutal heatwave that has led to at least five people dying or disappearing across the nation.
Former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy Albert Calibet, 59, was last seen hiking alone in very hot conditions on Amorgos. Meanwhile, the two French nationals - aged 73 and 64 - are missing on the secluded island of Sikinos.
Their disappearances come just weeks after Mail columnist Dr. Michael Mosley tragically passed away while travelling in Greece.
The retired Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy spoke to his girlfriend Debbie Leshane before the hike and texted her a picture of the trailhead around 9:30am yesterday, but has not been in contact since.
Two hours later, footage showed Calibet leaving the village of Aegiali, where he picked up a soft drink and a bottle of water.
Dr Michael Mosley died on the Greek island of Symi on June 5, and his body was found on June 9
Meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos told TV channel ERT: 'This heatwave will go down in history'
Five more tourists have died or gone missing on Greek islands since Mosley's death (File Image)
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A rescue operation was launched on Tuesday afternoon, and reinforcements were called in from nearby Naxos Island including enlisting a helicopter.
Police have requested data from mobile operators to help determine Calibet's last known location, and the search has even seen local shepherds join in the efforts, ABC News reported.
'We're sick to our stomachs, knowing he's out there somewhere,' Leshane told ABC7.
Popi Despotidi, Amorgos' deputy mayor for tourism, said it is likely that Calibet got dizzy in the heat and 'collapsed somewhere.'
'It's odd because he's not someone who was walking this route for the first time,' Despotidi told local media.
Calibet is reportedly a regular visit to Amorgos, a rocky island of less than 2,000 inhabitants.
Meanwhile, searches are going on for three tourists – two French women and an American, Albert Calibet (pictured), 59 – in the Cyclades islands
Temperatures soared above 40C earlier this month as the Greek holiday season began
'(He) is well-known on the island,' Despotidi said. 'He has been visiting for several years and has completed the Aegiali-Ketapola hike several times in the past.'
Little is known about the two missing French women, however.
Rescue teams are scouring the island for the pair, who stayed in different hotels but are understood to be connected.
They disappeared on Friday morning, and police and firefighters from neighbouring islands are taking part in the search.
CNN reported that one of the women sent a distress message to the guest house she was staying in. The receiver of the message ended up raising the alarm.
People drink water from a drinking fountain as a heatwave hits Athens, Greece
Elderly people visit a municipal cooling center as a heatwave hits Athens, Greece
Including the American and the two French women, five tourists have died or gone missing on Greek islands since the death of Dr Michael Mosley amid 'history-making' hot weather.
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Two more tourists die in Greece after Cyprus heatwave left two people dead amid 43C temperatures
The body of a missing American man was found on the island of Mathraki, near Corfu, on Sunday. It came the day after a Dutch man was found dead in a ravine on the eastern island of Samos.
The Dutch man who was found dead on Samos aged 74 was reportedly seen struggling to walk in the heat and was discovered 300 yards from where he was last spotted.
And the unnamed American, 55, found dead on Mathraki a day later, became the third tourist to lose his life in a week.
Temperatures soared above 40C earlier this month as the Greek holiday season began.
Meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos told TV channel ERT: 'This heatwave will go down in history. In the 20th century, we never had one before June 19.'
British holidaymakers heading to Greece are being warned to prepare for the unseasonably high temperatures hitting holiday hotspots this week.
Scorching conditions are expected to continue this week and throughout the month, according to Greek meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafillias.
Firefighters of the Cyprus Forests Department extinguish a fire that broke out in the village of Choulou in western Cyprus on June 12
Firefighters in Cyprus have struggled to battle spreading fires and strong winds this week
The Parthenon was closed this week, with members of the Red Cross on hand to give out bottled water as temperatures soared across the continent
'Undoubtedly, June this year is developing as one of the hottest months. In terms of developments, the first estimate (not forecast) for the continuation of summer is that the following months will also be warmer than usual,' he said.
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Holidaymakers seeking the sun in top summer spots are warned they will face 'record temperatures'
He added, citing the Copernicus Climate Change Service, that the probability that temperatures will be above normal levels in July-August-September is more than 60 per cent.
On Friday, an 84-year-old woman died a day after being admitted to hospital, State Health Services Organisation spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said.
As temperatures pushed 45C (113F), the death of a 91-year-old woman was reported on the same day.
Health officials said a woman died at Nicosia General Hospital suffering from heatstroke.
Charilaou told reporters the woman suffered a cardiac arrest twice on arrival at Nicosia's accident and emergency department.
'After investigating the incident, A&E doctors determined that the cardiac arrest was a result of heatstroke,' Charilaou said.
He said hospitals have been dealing with cases of heat exhaustion for several days.
At least another five elderly patients were being treated in hospitals with severe symptoms of heatstroke.